Zambia: A train derailed near the Kafubu River bridge rail crossing in Ndola on Sunday afternoon, injuring two individuals. In a shocking turn of events, people started taking advantage of the chaos by stealing sugar from the goods train.
As per reports, two trains, including an Impala, were involved in the incident. Edwin Choonga, the Northern and Inter mines Regional Manager for Zambia Railways, said a shunt movement train collided with a Freight train (known as Impala in Zambia), which was going in the opposite direction.
The impact caused one wagon to come off the rail line, leading to the derailment of other wagons and the locomotive. As per reports, the runaway train was carrying 20 wagons, six of which had sugar meant for export by Zambia Sugar. Further, 12 of the wagons were carrying coal.
Regional Manager Choonga was unable to share information about the number of wagons and cargo that the impala train was carrying.
The driver of the runaway train, Simon Nkhoma, sustained general injuries and was taken to Ndeke Mini Hospital in Ndola for observation. The driver of the impala train, Lyindunda Kenneth, and another passenger, Chimuka Nalube, also suffered injuries and were rushed to Ndola Teaching Hospital.
The rail line was completely ripped off when the two trains collided and derailed. The accident resulted in the disruption of traffic and the operations of Zambia Railways.
Zambia Police and Zambia Railways officers were on the scene to secure the area and prevent looting of the goods by local people.
The cause of the brake failure and the extent of the damage are still under investigation. Rae Hamoonga, the Police Public Relations Officer, urged the public to stay away from the site of the accident.